Kansas City Current will expand their stadium with a $235 million funding package.

What happened?

The Kansas City Council approved the funding package to increase the stadium's capacity to 18,000 seats.

Why it matters for Kansas City Current

The expansion will include a new parking garage and mixed-use development in the Current Landing district. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas supports the public funding, citing the team's role in transforming the riverfront.

What comes next?

The team will negotiate with the city to reach a final deal and apply for state tax breaks. The Current have long planned to expand the stadium, which opened in 2024 as the first stadium built for women’s sports. The team said the $1.4 billion project is necessary because matches regularly sell out at the current 11,500-seat stadium. Angie and Chris Long, co-founders and co-owners of the Current, said the financing plan is an investment in Kansas City’s growth. The success of the Current and the Riverfront benefit the entire community, and they are honored to help create a lasting legacy. The city-backed deal comes after a wide majority of voters rejected a 3/8th-cent stadium sales tax for the Royals in 2024. The ordinance would also give more tax breaks to the Current through the creation of a tax increment financing district. The TIF district could help the city pay off the $235 million bond by capturing new sales and earnings taxes in the Berkley Riverfront area. The plan does not immediately approve the money for the KC Current, but instead directs City Manager Mario Vasquez to negotiate with the team. The Current did receive a $5.5 million tax credit from Missouri’s Development Finance Board that went primarily toward infrastructure improvements. Economists agree that publicly funding stadiums does not guarantee economic growth. The team's riverfront development was mostly privately funded, with the Current investing in the area's transformation. The expansion project is set to continue the team's success and contribute to the city's growth.